Method of packaging foodstuffs and container packed by said method

Abstract

The method involves purging of the oxygen content from within the interior of a flexible-walled container by flushing it with an inert gas such as nitrogen. Ideally, the residual oxygen content should be less that 2%, or most preferably, less than 1%. The flushing step may be implemented before, during or after introduction of the foodstuff dependant upon whether the foodstuff is in solid or liquid form, or a mixture of both. After introducing the foodstuff and before sealing, the container is inflated with nitrogen gas and may optionally be subsequently squeezed to remove a selected volume of nitrogen gas. Where discrete pieces of a foodstuff have a tendency to agglomerate during packaging, transport and storage, a higher volume of nitrogen is retained within the container after sealing to counter this effect and ensure that the product is more appealing to the consumer.

1 - 25 . (canceled)  
   
   
       26 . A method of filling a flexible-walled container comprising the steps of: 
 (i) purging substantially all oxygen from the interior of the container by introducing an inert gas;    (ii) introducing a foodstuff into the container;    (iii) over-inflating the container with inert gas beyond a desired volume;    (iv) subsequently removing a selected volume of the inert gas from the container to leave a selected volume remaining in the container; and    (v) sealing the container.    
   
   
       27 . A method as claimed in  claim 26 , wherein the step of introducing a foodstuff into the container is preceded by deploying the container from a folded to an unfolded configuration.  
   
   
       28 . A method as claimed in  claim 27  wherein the step of deploying the container from a folded to an unfolded configuration is achieved by means of gas inflation.  
   
   
       29 . A method as claimed in  claim 26 , wherein, if the introduced foodstuff is substantially entirely solid in state, the step of purging substantially all oxygen from the interior of the container is initiated before the step of introducing the solid foodstuff into the container.  
   
   
       30 . A method as claimed in  claim 26 , wherein, if the introduced foodstuff is substantially entirely solid in state, the steps of purging substantially all oxygen from the interior of the container and introducing the solid foodstuff into the container are performed concurrently.  
   
   
       31 . A method as claimed in  claim 26 , wherein, if the introduced foodstuff is substantially entirely liquid in state, the step of purging substantially all oxygen from the interior of the container is initiated after the step of introducing the liquid foodstuff into the container.  
   
   
       32 . A method as claimed in  claim 26 , wherein, the step of introducing a foodstuff into the container involves the introduction of a substantially solid foodstuff followed by the introduction of a substantially liquid foodstuff; and wherein the step of purging substantially all oxygen from the interior of the container is ceased after the step of introducing the substantially solid foodstuff into the container.  
   
   
       33 . A method as claimed in  claim 29 , wherein the container is inflated by an inert gas after introduction of the substantially solid foodstuff.  
   
   
       34 . A method as claimed in  claim 31 , wherein the container is inflated by an inert gas after introduction of the substantially liquid foodstuff.  
   
   
       35 . A method as claimed in  claim 33 , wherein the inert gas is introduced into the container by gas introduction means whilst the flexible wall of the open end of the container is engaged tightly against the gas introduction means.  
   
   
       36 . A method as claimed in  claim 35 , wherein the gas introduction means is a nozzle with a substantially flat opening.  
   
   
       37 . A method as claimed in  claim 26 , wherein the selected volume is removed by mechanical squeezing of the flexible wall of the container.  
   
   
       38 . A method as claimed  claim 26 , wherein the container is sealed by means of heat sealing.  
   
   
       39 . A method as claimed in  claim 26 , wherein the volume of inert gas remaining within the container is selected to reduce agglomeration of discrete pieces of foodstuff.  
   
   
       40 . A method as claimed in  claim 26 , wherein the foodstuff is cereal based.  
   
   
       41 . A method as claimed in  claim 40 , wherein the cereal is selected from the group consisting of rice, couscous, wild rice, barley, wheat, oats, rye, millet and maize.  
   
   
       42 . A method as claimed in  claim 26 , wherein the flexible-walled container is a plastics pouch.  
   
   
       43 . A method as claimed in  claim 26 , wherein the inert gas is selected from the group consisting of nitrogen, carbon dioxide, helium, argon, neon and xenon.  
   
   
       44 . A method as claimed in  claim 26 , wherein oxygen gas forms less than 2% of the volume of gas within the container.  
   
   
       45 . A method as claimed in  claim 26 , wherein oxygen gas forms less than 1% of the volume of gas within the container.  
   
   
       46 . A flexible-walled container filled by the method of  claim 26.